I got back into CB radio about two years ago after being out of it for some time. I first got the BC 980 and regretted that since I got it. The 980 has no good filtering so every day passing by the same spots on my way to work I would get full scale static in the same places, my 2950 would do the same thing in the same places, also the weather band is weak and doesn't work most of the time until I get into a city where the weather transmitters are located. Not sure why but I was surprised to see that President came out with a SSB radio and had to have it. First thing I noticed was what was missing, I no longer got any of the interference that I got with my 980 or my 2950! The radio has outstanding reception on the CB band and the weather band, I couldn't believe the difference. After I realized this radio was a keeper I turned the AMC and the ALC all the way up (you have to know what you're doing with the new pots that don't have a stopping point) and made sure that the AM dead key was 1 watt on low power and 4 watts on hi power and it was. I got 23 watts swing on AM and 19 watts swing on SSB, that isn't bad for a single final radio. Honestly, if I played with it more I'm sure I could have gotten a few more watts but it drives my KL 203 just fine the way it is. When I got the Uniden 980 I also got the wireless microphone too, I was a little bummed that I couldn't use that mic anymore but after looking at the pin out on the mic I realized that I could. The Uniden wireless mic works great with the McKinley without rewireing it! So far I can't complain about the President McKinley except that I didn't buy it from GI Joe's, they are $10 cheaper on this radio then anyone else and their shipping was cheaper too. I will be getting a second one for my other car very soon. Yes this radio is expensive compared to others on the market but you will notice the difference when you use it.